Swinging tray conveyors



Dec. 22, 1964 J. M. LEACH 3,162,297

SWINGING TRAY CONVEYORS Filed July '7, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 22, 1964 Filed July '7, 1961 J. M. LEACH SWINGING TRAY CONVEYORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent ()iltice 3,162,297 Patented Dec. 22, 1964 3,162,297 SWINGWG TRAY (IQNVEYGRS John M. Leach, Port Washington, N.Y. {P.O. Box 350, Port .lefierson, N.Y.) Filed July 7, H61, Ser. No. 122,519 6 Claims. (Cl. 198-116) The present invention relates to mechanical movements. More particularly, it relates to mechanical movements of the type employed in conveyors such, for example, as pivoted tray or bucket types as described and claimed in co-pending application Serial Number 789,961,-now Patent No. 3,031,066, filed Jan. 29, 1959, of which this application is a continuation-impart.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanical movement which can be used in conveyors and other equipment which is simple in design, dependable in operation and wear resistant even in the presence of adverse operating conditions. The simple design is desirable because equipment such as conveyors is frequently required to fit into small areas which necessitates compact components. The more compact the design the more inaccessible the component which gives rise to the need for dependable operation, and, because conveyors frequently handle dusty and abrasive materials, it is necessary that mechanical movements be free from complicated elements which are always vulnerable to wear.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a mechanical movement in which some of the elements can be made to move at a much higher rate than other of the elements.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mechanical movement in which certain elements can be made to move at a rate which is completely inde pendent of the rate of movement of the other elements.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the following description of what are now considered to be the preferred physical embodiments of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters refer to the same elements throughout;

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a conveyor showing one form of mechanical movement of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a similar view present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a section of a chain element of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing another form of mechanical movement of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows an electrical wiring diagram of the type used to control the mechanical movement shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing another form of the mechanical movement of the present invent-ion;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary detailed view of certain elements appearing in FIG. 6 but viewed from above, and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary detailed view of the same elements of FIG. 7 but viewed from the side.

For the purpose of explanation the present invention has been disclosed as embodied in the same type of conveying equipment as that disclosed in the above identified parent application and it is to be understood that all of the disclosure of that application is applicable here with the exception of the mechanical movement for causing the chain links to fold together which is reshowing another form of the .placed here by the mechanical movements of the pres ent invention. The present disclosure has been restricted to the mechanical movements, per se, to avoid duplication of explanatory matter.

The mechanical movement of the present invention includes a chain which is shown in PEG. 1, for example, as comprising outside links it) which are pivotally connected to inside links 12 by pins 13 which may be in the form of hollow thimbles. If desired, the chain may also include rollers 14 which are journalled on the pins 13.

The chain is supported by and moves along a support or track 16 under the moving action of any suitable prime mover such as the sprocket drive shown in the parent application. A suitable top surface 18 provides protection to the chain and also restricts movement of the chain links to the direction of the lengthwise movement of the entire chain. At a selected point in the travel of the chain, the surrace 18 deflects away from the other surface 16 to provide an expanded area between the surfaces as shown at 29.

Every other one of the pins or thimbles is provided with a side extension 24 which is preferably in the form of a roller suitably journalled in any desired manner in the thirnble 13.

A cam 26 is suitably attached to some part of the supporting structure, for example to one side of the surface member 16. The cam 26 is positioned in the path of the side extensions 24 and has a steep slope so that lengthwise movement of the chain brings the side extensions 24 one after the other into contact with the cam and its steep slope causes the pivotal connection of the chain at the moment in contact with the cam 26 to be moved rapidly in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement or" the chain. The faster this movement of the pivotal connection at right angles take place the quicker the side-moving pivotal connection will get off of dead-center vand the less the force required to be exerted by the chain pushing in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 1. The steepness of the slope of the cam 26 causes this side movement of the pivotal connection to be at a much highter rate than the lengthwise movement of the chain. This is made possible in the mechanical movement of the present invention only because the links ahead of those undergoing folding action and which have already been moved into maximum folded position can undergo slight retrograde movement and thus give the slack necessary for the pivotal connection undergoing side movement to move at a higher rate than the lengthwise movement of the chain.

The extent which it is desirable for the cam 26 to move the pivotal connections sidewise and at right angles to the direction of lengthwise movement of the chain to get the connection cit of dead-center so that further folding action will require very little force exerted by the chain will vary with the pitch of the chain. For example, a three inch pitch chain requires that the links be moved until their longitudinal center lines form approximately a twenty-five degree angle with the center line of the chain which is moving lengthwise with the links not folded.

This rapid sidewise movement of the pivotal connections greatlyreduces the load time on the pivotal connections during sidewise movement and thus greatly re- 321K268 Wear on the parts and increases their operating In order to stop the folding action on the part of the links at the most desirable point a surface in the form of a plate 22 is suitably attached to the inside link 12 of each pair of links which contacts a side surface 11 of the outside link it of the same pair and thus provides a positive stop.

FIG. 3' shows a section of chain which forms 'an element of thefpresent inventioninwhich the. shapes of the links themselves provide cooperating stop surfaces. The links 40 are shaped as shown and are pivotally connected by pins' 41 and every other pin 41 is provided with a sideextension 46 which'rnay be the same as side extensions 24 of FIG. 1.

saving rapid folding action The function of the chain shown in FIG. 3 is the same '7 as that shown in FIG. '1 except the folding action of the links is stopped when surfaces-48*on-one set of links contacts surfaces 50 on the next pair of links.

In the modification of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 2, the sideextensions and cam' 24 are omitted and instead: a projection is formed on the surface 16 which is preferably in the form of "a roller 30 suitably journalled on stud 32. A projection 21 is also prefer- 'ablysuitably attached to the top member 20.-

In the operation of this mechanical movement, as the chain moves lengthwise 'eachxpivotal connection which does not move sidewise at .rightangles to the direction of movement of the chain lengthwise, is caused to roll up and over the roller 39. 'Just as the pivotal connection starts down from the highest part ofroller 3%, the roller 14 of the link 12 immediately preceding this pivotal connection contacts the surface 21 which drives this piv otal connection down into the position shownat 34 in FIG. 2. This causes the link, immediately following to fulcrumon'the top of the roller 3% and thus move the immediately following pivotal connectionvery rapidly into the position shown at 36 in FIG. 2'at which point that particular pivotal connection is off of "its deadcenter. completely folded links will herelagain undergo some retrograde action in order to providethe slack necessary for the side moving pivotal connection to move at a When. two chains are operating simultaneously as "shown in the parentapplic'ation, two solenoids will be required, one for each chain, so that a second solenoid- 66 is shown in thecircuit of FIG. 5 which would be controlled by the same electrical. media and simultaneously .with solenoid 64. It is, of course; possible to control all ;of the solenoids for severalload points on the same conveyorby just one set of controls as shown in FIG. 5

During the. fulcrumingaction'of the link it the V highersrate than the movement of the chain lengthwise and thus reduce wear on the pivotal, connections.

v In the modification shown in FIG; 4 the facility for moving the pivotal connections sidewise and at right" angles to the direction of lengthwise movementfof'the' chain, comprises an axiallymovable member 6% which can be suitably supported and guided for movement by fixedcollars 61 and 62. The member 6ii'is carried by v an arm 63 Whichis suitably connected-to the armature of an electrical. solenoid 64 which in FIG. 4 is shown in the fully retracted position at which point the member has moved the particular pivotal connection undergoing side movement .off of itswdea -center.

The energization of solenoid 64- 's efifected when a pivotal connection38 immediately preceding the pivotal connection to be moved sidewise contacts a suitable limit switch LS1. Referring to the circuit shownin FIG. 5, this causes the normally open limit switch LS1 to close;

which completes a circuit fromline L1 throughthe normally closed contacts of relay R1 to line L2 through the solenoid 64- which causes the axially movable member 66 to move the pivotal connection as above explained.

When the member 6% reaches its maximum movement, a 'a cam carried by member 69 activates limit switch LS2 which causes a circuit to be completedflfrom line In the modification shown in-FIGS. 6, 7 and 8,- an axially movable member. 68 is guided for'movement in collars 7t) and '72 and carriesa pin projection 74 which is-con I tactecl so as to move m'emberj8 upwardly and thus move thepivotal connection at rightlan'gles to thelengthwisc movement 'of the chain by an extension 84456 carried by 'alever, 76 as shown in FIG. 7.]The lever 76 is suitably pivoted M78 and carries anextension 863 which is in position1to be contacted bya pivoted'connection 39 as shown in not. 1 p r g The side extension 84%36'comprisesa section 84' which is suitablyaflixed to the lever'ld Ja'n'dis suitablyarticulated to a'swingable section 86 bya'pivot 9i. Anqexten'sion arm 92 on thefswingable section prevents the latter from swinging "downwardly as'viewed in FIG. 8 but allows section 8-6 to swing upwardly 'freely. r

a In the operation of he modification ust described, as i the pivotal connection '39 moves on to the lever extension 80, the lever 76' is rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG. 6 and the section 86bears' upwardly 0n the pin 74- which movesaxially movable member 63 upwardly to move the pivotal. connection at right angles the same as in the 'precedingmodifications. Just as the member 68 reaches its highest point, the ledge 99 0f the swingable section 86 rides out from under the pinjq. as shown in FIG.'6 which 'allows the member 63 to drop rapidly downwardly under its own weight, which action is just starting'as shown in FIG. ,6. When the pivotal connection 39 moves off of the leverextension 80, the, lever 76will rotate counterclockwise and when the swingable section 86 strikes the pin 74,

the section 36;will swing counterclockwise and slideunder the pin "74 againas shown in'FIG. 7, at which point the mechanical movement will be in readiness for another L1, through limitsWitch LS1, through limit switchLSZ,

i 'and through relay R1 to line L2. This causes relay R1 to function so as to open its normally closed contacts NC and close its normally open contacts NO. This instantly breaks the circuit-through solenoid 64 which im- '=mediately causes memberih tolower rapidly under, its

own Weight. The fact that pivotal connection 38 may still be resting on limit switch LS1 does not'reactivate solenoid 64 again because relay R1 has established *a' holding circuit foritself through} its contacts NO which 5 remain closed until pivotal connection 38 does leave limit switch LS1 at which time relay R1 deactivates and the system remains inactive until the next non-sidewise' moving pivotal connection contacts limit switch LS3. In the modification shown in FIGS. 4 andS, the Wearthe spirit of the invention.

cycle; The operation of the modification of FIG. 6 is otherwise the same as inthe previous modifications.

It will be noted that the mechanical movements of the present invention-are all'simp le in design and require a minimum of movableparts, occupy a small space, and

accomplish their functions with a minimum of force and effort. All of these factors contribute .to reduced wear and long life on the part ofthe mechanism.

It is to be understood that the forms; f this invention described herein represent only the; preferred embodiments of the present invention since many changes can be made in these embodiments without departing from The invention having been described, what is claimed LA conveyor comprising'a chain having links-and pivotalzconnections between the links, meansformoving 7 the chain lengthwise, a' guide for the chain having opposite surfaees to 'retain the chain in substantially straight line position during movement, one surface of the guide j deflecting. sharply away from theother surface at a selected point inthe movement of the chain to provide a sharply. expanded area between the guide surfaces, means for moving a pivotal connection at right angles to the canbeaccomplished at a very direction of movement of the chain into the sharply expanded area and at a higher rate of movement than the rate of movement of the chain lengthwise, and means on one link adjacent the so moved pivotal connection which contacts the other link at a point near the so moved pivotal connection to limit the movement of the two links away from the line of movement of the chain lengthwise.

2. A mechanical movement comprising a chain having links and pivotal connections between the links, means for moving the chain lengthwise, a guide for the chain having opposite surfaces to retain the chain in substantially straight line position during movement, one surface of the guide deflecting sharply away from the other surface at a selected point in the movement of the chain .to provide a sharply expanded area between the guide surfaces, means for moving a pivotal connection at right angles to the direction of movement of the chain into the sharply expanded area and at a higher rate of movement than the rate of movement of the chain lengthwise so as to cause retrograde movement of the pivotal connection immediately preceding the pivotal connection so moved at right angles to the direction of movement of the chain lengthwise, and means for limiting the extent of right angular movement of the pivotal connection.

3. A mechanical movement comprising a chain having links and pivotal connections between the links, means for moving the chain lengthwise, a guide for the chain having opposite surfaces to retain the chain in substantially straight line position during movement, one surface of the guide deflecting sharply away from the other surface at a selected point in the movement of the chain to provide a sharply expanded area between the guide surfaces, and means for moving a pivotal connection at right angles to the direction of movement of the chain into the sharply expanded area and at a higher rate of movement than the rate of movement of the chain lengthwise.

4. A mechanical movement comprising a chain having links and pivotal connections between the links, means for moving the chain lengthwise, a guide for the chain having opposite surfaces to retain the chain in substantially straight line position during movement, one surface of the guide deflecting sharply away from the other surface at a selected point in the movement of the chain to provide a sharply expanded area between the guide surfaces, side extensions attached to some of the pivotal connections, means for engaging the side extensions to move the attached pivotal connections at right angles to the direction of movement of the chain into the sharply expanded area and at a higher rate of movement than the rate of movement of the chain lengthwise.

5. A mechanical movement comprising a chain having links and pivotal connections between the links, means for moving the chain lengthwise, means for moving every other pivotal connection in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the chain lengthwise comprising a surface over which the chain moves, a projection extending from the surface over which each pivotal connection which does not so move at right angles to the direction of movement of the chain lengthwise moves up and over, a second surface positioned so that as a pivotal connection moves over the said projection the pivotal connection immediately preceding contacts the said second named surface which causes the link immediately following the pivotal connection moving over the projection to be fulcrumed on the projection and thereby move the pivotal connection immediately following said last named link at right angles to the direction of movement of the chain lengthwise.

6. A mechanical movement comprising a chain having links and pivotal connections between the links, means for moving the chain lengthwise, a guide for the chain having opposite surfaces to retain the chain in substantially straight line position during movement, one surface of the guide deflecting sharply away from the other surface at a selected point in the movement of the chain to provide a sharply expanded area between the guide surfaces, means for moving at least one of the pivotal connections at right angles to the direction of movement of the chain lengthwise into the sharply expanded area and at a higher rate of movement than the rate of movement of the chain lengthwise comprising an axially movable member, means for guiding the member so that it will contact the pivotal connection to be moved at right angles to the direction of movement of the chain, and means for moving the axially movable member to so move the pivotal connection at right angles to the direction of movement of the chain and at a higher rate and then retract so that it does not interfere with the movement of the immediately following pivotal connection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,023,443 Seeberger Apr. 16, 1912 2,487,354 McNamara Nov. 8, 1948 2,534,054 Parkes Dec. 12, 1950 2,780,342 Good Feb. 5, 1957 3,031,066 Leach Apr. 24, 1962 3,062,358 Woodward Nov. 6, 1962 

1. A CONVEYOR COMPRISING A CHAIN HAVING LINKS AND PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE LINKS, MEANS FOR MOVING THE CHAIN LENGTHWISE, A GUIDE FOR THE CHAIN HAVING OPPOSITE SURFACES TO RETAIN THE CHAIN IN SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT LINE POSITION DURING MOVEMENT, ONE SURFACE OF THE GUIDE DEFLECTING SHARPLY AWAY FROM THE OTHER SURFACE AT A SELECTED POINT IN THE MOVEMENT OF THE CHAIN TO PROVIDE A SHARPLY EXPANDED AREA BETWEEN THE GUIDE SURFACES, MEANS FOR MOVING A PIVOTAL CONNECTION AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE CHAIN INTO THE SHARPLY EXPANDED AREA AND AT A HIGHER RATE OF MOVEMENT THAN THE RATE OF MOVEMENT OF THE CHAIN LENGTHWISE, AND MEANS ON ONE LINK ADJACENT THE SO MOVED PIVOTAL CONNECTION WHICH CONTACTS THE OTHER LINK AT A POINT NEAR THE SO MOVED PIVOTAL CONNECTION TO LIMIT THE MOVEMENT OF THE TWO LINKS AWAY FROM THE LINE OF MOVEMENT OF THE CHAIN LENGTHWISE. 